Kanji Videos with Hiroko
In this classic video series, Hiroko introduces kanji with fun mnemonics.
Absolute Beginner

Curriculum

Kanji Videos with Hiroko

Learn how to write kanji, the most difficult of the 3 Japanese alphabets. But with Hiroko as your guide, learning kanji has never been easier! In this series, Hiroko will show you how to write common kanji characters by breaking down their meaning, give you tips on how to remember the character, and show you the proper stroke order.

Lesson Title Topic Function Conversation in target language Vocabulary
#1 Japanese Kanji and Trees - What's the Connection? Target Kanji: 木 writing and reading the kanji, 木 On-yomi: moku, boku
Kun-yomi: ki, ko
Meaning: tree
つみ木
木かげ
木ようび
木とう
2 Get into the "Grove" of Kanji? Target Kanji: 林 writing and reading the kanji, 木 On-yomi: moku, boku
Kun-yomi: ki, ko
Meaning: tree
つみ木
木かげ
木ようび
木とう
3 The Origin of Kanji Target Kanji: 森 writing and reading the kanji, 森 On-yomi : shin
Kun-yomi : mori
Meaning : forest
森林
森さん
4 The Origin of Kanji Target Kanji: 本 writing and reading the kanji, 本 On-yomi : hon
Kun-yomi : moto
Meaning : root, origin, book
き本
おお本
5 Land of the Rising Sun Target Kanji: 日 writing and reading the kanji, 日 On-yomi : jitsu, nichi
Kun-yomi : ka, hi
Meaning : sun, day
まい日
本日
日づけ
みっ日
6 Bringing Kanji Together Target Kanji: 東 writing and reading the kanji, 東 On-yomi : tō
Kun-yomi : higashi
Meaning : east
東ほく
東日本
7 Over the Moon Kanji Target Kanji: 月 writing and reading the kanji, 月 On-yomi : gatsu, getsu
Kun-yomi : tsuki
Meaning : moon, month
月み
いち月
月ようび
8 Kanji That'll Make You Bright Target Kanji: 明 writing and reading the kanji, 明 On-yomi : mei, myō
Kun-yomi : aka-rui, aki-raka
Meaning : bright
明るい
明らか
明月
明にち
9 Kanji People! Target Kanji: 人 writing and reading the kanji, 人 On-yomi : jin, nin
Kun-yomi : hito
Meaning : Human, person
人かげ
日本人
さん人
10 Combination Kanji Target Kanji: 休 writing and reading the kanji, 休 On-yomi : kyū
Kun-yomi : yasu-mu
Meaning : rest
休む
休日
11 Kanji- Easy as One, Two, Three Target Kanji: 一、二、三 writing and reading the kanji, 一、二、三 『一』
On-yomi: ichi
Kun-yomi : hito, hito-tsu
Meaning : One, first

『二』
On-yomi : ni
Kun-yomi : futa, futa-tsu
Meaning : Two, second

『三』
On-yomi : san
Kun-yomi : mi, mi-ttsu
Meaning : three, third
一月
一口
二月
二口
三月
三口
12 Ten Kanji Target Kanji: 十 writing and reading the kanji, 十 On-yomi : jū
Kun-yomi : tō, to
Meaning : Ten, tenth
十月
十日
13 A Hundred Kanji Target Kanji: 百 writing and reading the kanji, 百 On-yomi : hyaku, byaku
Kun-yomi : N/A
Meaning : hundred
百えん
三百えん
14 A Thousand Kanji Target Kanji: 千 writing and reading the kanji, 千 On-yomi : sen
Kun-yomi : chi
Meaning : thousand
千えん
千よ
15 Spring into Kanji Target Kanji: 春 writing and reading the kanji, 春 On-yomi : shun
Kun-yomi : haru
Meaning : spring
春らい
春かぜ
16 Early Morning Kanji Target Kanji: 早 writing and reading the kanji, 早 On-yomi : sō
Kun-yomi : haya
Meaning : early
早春
早い
17 Watch Out For This Kanji! Target Kanji: 目 writing and reading the kanji, 目 On-yomi : moku
Kun-yomi : me
Meaning : eyes
ちゅう目
目だま
18 Looking Deeper Into Kanji Target Kanji: 見 writing and reading the kanji, 見 On-yomi : ken
Kun-yomi : mi - ru
Meaning : to look, to see, to watch
一見
見た目
19 A Mouth Full of Kanji! Target Kanji: 口 writing and reading the kanji, 口 On-yomi : kō
Kun-yomi : kuchi
Meaning : mouth, gate
つみ木
木かげ
木ようび
木とう
20 Kanji That Speaks Target Kanji: 言 writing and reading the kanji, 言 On-yomi : gen, gon
Kun-yomi : i - u, koto
Meaning : say, a word
言ご
ゆい言
言う
言ば
21 Hold Your Tongue Target Kanji: 舌 writing and reading the kanji, 舌 On-yomi : zetsu
Kun-yomi : shita, jita
Meaning : tongue
じょう舌
舌たらず
まき舌
22 The Story of Kanji Target Kanji: 話 writing and reading the kanji, 話 On-yomi : wa
Kun-yomi : hana-su, hanashi
Meaning : a story, to talk
しん話
話す
23 A Language of Its Own Target Kanji: 語 writing and reading the kanji, 語 On-yomi : go
Kun-yomi : kata-ru
Meaning : language, a word
言語
語る
24 Kanji That's Music to Your Ears Target Kanji: 耳 writing and reading the kanji, 耳 On-yomi : ji
Kun-yomi : mimi
Meaning : ears
耳び
そら耳
25 Listen to This Kanji! Target Kanji: 聞 writing and reading the kanji, 聞 On-yomi : bun
Kun-yomi : ki-ku
Meaning : listen
見聞
聞く